KUALA LUMPUR: A stimulus package is unlikely unless the crisis in the Middle East escalates and causes prolonged energy supply disruptions.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said that the government’s immediate priority is to closely monitor developments and ensure the security and stability of the country’s energy supply.
“As for whether there will be any stimulus packages, the key issue is that we still do not know how the crisis in the Middle East will unfold. If the situation stabilises, there may be no need for such measures,” he told reporters at the MyCIF Engagement Day today.
Rising tensions in the Middle East have raised concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supply and higher oil prices, which could have spillover effects on economies worldwide.
Amir Hamzah said Malaysia currently has sufficient supplies of oil, gas and coal, with deliveries to petrol stations, utilities and the electricity sector remaining stable.
“We work with government agencies to ensure supply remains stable. Companies such as Petroliam Nasional Bhd and other oil and gas players will continue increasing their stock levels to replace what we consume in the country.”
He added that the government is helping Malaysians cope with rising prices through targeted subsidy programmes such as BUDI95, BUDI Individu, BUDI Agri and BUDI Commodity.
“As the prime minister has said, although there is pressure from rising prices, these BUDI programmes help us maintain prices at their current level,” Amir Hamzah said.
However, for non-subsidised goods, prices will continue to be determined by the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM), which reflects prevailing market conditions.
Amir Hamzah said higher fuel consumption during the Hari Raya festive season has already been factored into supply planning. “Based on previous years, oil companies typically increase storage levels ahead of the festive period to ensure there is no disruption to fuel supply.”
The government’s immediate priority is to help Malaysians manage the impact of rising prices, while encouraging both households and businesss to adopt a balanced approach in managing consumption, he said. “If there are ways to reduce energy usage or cut back on items affected by these developments, that will help.”
Global developments will inevitably affect prices, Amir Hamzah said, noting that the situation is not unique to Malaysia but is part of broader global economic pressures.
“For now, the government’s strategy is to focus on managing the impact of rising prices while monitoring the situation closely,” he said.
At the event, the Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF) unveiled initiatives aimed at improving access to funding for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those in emerging sectors.
Amir Hamzah announced that an additional RM20 million will be allocated to MyCIF for 2026, on top of the RM30 million provided under Budget 2026, bringing the total allocation for the year to RM50 million.
Among the initiatives is the introduction of a Silver Economy Scheme, which aims to encourage investment in MSMEs that support Malaysia’s ageing population through areas such as care technology, specialised healthcare and senior living services.
MyCIF also introduced a venture capital and private equity profit-sharing incentive to attract VC- and PE-led deals onto equity crowdfunding (ECF) platforms, allowing crowd investors to participate in institutionally backed investments.
Under the initiative, MyCIF will share 50% of profits with VC and PE lead investors upon successful exits. Gobi Partners and OSK Ventures International have expressed interest in bringing deals to ECF investors.
In addition, the Food Security Scheme will be expanded to include agritech startups to support innovation aimed at improving agricultural productivity and strengthening national food security.
Since its launch in 2019, MyCIF has recorded more than RM1.5 billion in co-investments alongside RM6.2 billion from private investors, enabling a total of RM7.7 billion in funds raised for over 11,500 MSMEs.
Securities Commission Malaysia chairman Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the programme has played a significant role in expanding access to financing for MSMEs through ECF and peer-to-peer financing platforms.
“The MyCIF model synergises the resilience of public capital with the collective wisdom of the crowd. There is strong potential for this model to scale further to address funding needs and support economic growth,” he added.
